Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
How Listening Affects Our Life
Auditory Processing Disorder is a complex problem. The term is used by many people, in very different ways.
There is research underway to help understand this disorder. There also is research to investigate therapies that
will help individuals who may have an auditory processing disorder.
The Listening Program and Tomatis Method
The Listening Program was specifically designed for
children (ages 2 and older) and adults who have auditory perceptual processing concerns.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
Below is some information that is intended to help you further understand Auditory Processing and Auditory Processing
Therapy Programs.
Auditory processing is a term used to describe what happens when your brain recognizes and interprets the sounds around
you. Humans hear when energy that we recognize as sound travels through the ear and is changed into electrical information
that can be interpreted by the brain. The "disorder" part of auditory processing disorder means that something is
adversely affecting the processing or interpretation of the information.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
Children and adults with with Auditory Processing Disorder often do not recognize subtle differences between sounds in words, even though the
sounds
themselves are loud and clear. For example, the request "Tell me how an apple and an orange are alike" may sound
to a child or adult with Auditory Processing Disorder like "Tell me how an orange and an apple are alike." It can even be understood by the person
with Auditory Processing Disorder as "Tell me how a horse and a star are alike." These kinds of problems are more likely to occur when a
person with Auditory Processing Disorder is in a noisy environment or when he or she is listening to complex information.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
Auditory Processing Disorder goes by many other names. Sometimes it is referred to as central auditory processing disorder (CAuditory Processing Disorder) or
auditory perception problem, auditory comprehension deficit, central auditory dysfunction, central deafness, and
so-called "word deafness."
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program What is Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD)?
Central Auditory Processing Disorder: inability to differentiate,
recognize, or understand sounds; hearing and
intelligence are normal.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
Hearing impairment can be caused by physical damage from things like common ear infections, but are usually
located in the neural pathways of the brain which link the ear with the highest intellectual centers
(the central auditory nervous system).
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program What causes auditory processing difficulty?
Human communication relies on taking in complicated perceptual information from the outside world through the senses,
such as hearing, and interpreting that information in a meaningful way. Human communication also requires certain
mental abilities, such as attention and memory. Researchers and scientists still do not understand exactly how all of
these processes
work and interact or how they malfunction in cases of communication disorders. Even though the child and adult with Auditory Processing Disorder
seems to "hear normally," he or she may have difficulty using those sounds for speech and language.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
The cause of Auditory Processing Disorder is often unknown. In children, auditory processing difficulty may be associated with conditions such
as dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, autism,
autism spectrum disorder,
specific language impairment, pervasive
developmental disorder, or developmental delay. Sometimes this term has been misapplied to children who have no
hearing or language disorder but have challenges in learning. Left untreated, the conditions carry through into
adulthood.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program How is suspected auditory processing difficulty diagnosed?
The first person to notice symptoms of auditory processing difficulty in an adult or a child may be anyone.
If can be a friend, spouse, parent or teacher. Many health professionals can also diagnose Auditory Processing Disorder. There may need to be
ongoing observation with the professionals involved.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
Much of what will be done by these professionals will be to rule out other problems. A pediatrician or a family
doctor can help rule out possible diseases that can cause some of these same symptoms. He or she will also measure
growth and development. If there is a disease or disorder related to hearing, you may be referred to an
otolaryngologist, a physician who
specializes in diseases and disorders of the head and neck.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
To determine whether there is a hearing function problem, an audiologic evaluation is necessary. An
audiologist will give tests that can determine the softest sounds and words a person can hear and other tests to see how
well people can recognize sounds in words and sentences. For example, for one task, the audiologist might have the
patient listen to different numbers or words in the right and the left ear at the same time. Another common audiologic
task involves giving two sentences, one louder than the other, at the same time. The audiologist is trying to
identify the processing problem. A speech-language pathologist can find out how well a person understands and uses
language. A mental health professional can give you information about cognitive and behavioral challenges that may c
ontribute to problems in some cases, or he or she may have suggestions that will be helpful. Because the
audiologist can help with the functional problems of hearing and processing, and the speech-language pathologist
is focused on language, they may work as a team. All of these professionals seek to provide the best outcome for each
person.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program What current research is being conducted?
In recent years, scientists have developed new ways to study the human brain through imaging. Imaging is a powerful
tool that allows the monitoring of brain activity without any surgery. Imaging studies are already giving scientists
new insights into auditory processing. Some of these studies are directed at understanding auditory processing disorders.
One of the values of imaging is that it provides an objective, measurable view of a process. Many of the symptoms
described as related to Auditory Processing Disorder are described differently by different people.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
Imaging will help identify the source of these symptoms. Other scientists are studying the central auditory nervous
system. Cognitive neuroscientists are helping to describe how the processes that mediate sound recognition and
comprehension work in both normal and disordered systems.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
Research into the rehabilitation of child language disorders continues. It's important to know that research
is needed to understand auditory processing problems, related disorders, and the best interventions for each
child or adult. All the strategies undertaken will need to be suited to the needs of the individual,
and their effectiveness will need to be continuously reevaluated. The standard for determining if a treatment is
effective is that a patient can reasonably expect to benefit from it.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program What treatments are available for auditory processing difficulty?
Much research is still needed to understand Auditory Processing Disorder problems, related disorders, and the best intervention for each child or
adult.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
The Listening Program is an auditory therapy program that is easy to do at home, is enjoyable, and also very
successful in strengthening auditory and related abilities.
The Listening Program is a program that benefit anyone, but
specifically individuals who have difficulties in the areas of auditory perception, processing, and memory.
Auditory Processing Disorder and The Listening Program
The Listening Program was designed to help balance, strengthen, and/or restore our ability to listen to and process sounds across the
full auditory spectrum, from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. This can result in marked improvements across the human continuum,
from academic performance to emotional balance.
Using The Listening Program actually exercises and tones the tiny muscles in the ear and helps build stronger multi-sensory pathways in
the brain. The brain receives especially rich auditory stimulation, and its ability to process sound improves.
